I love the feeling of being home! I truly enjoy being surrounded by the people I love and the things that make me happy. I am passionate about finding joy in my home---which for me has a double meaning. My home is where I find comfort and discover who I am by using my talents and abilities.
I'm an avid thrift store shopper and collector. I love to create, re-purpose, design, re-invent and build all sorts of things.
I am passionate about helping others find the joy in their homes that I do in mine. And I believe that it doesn't take a lot of cash to do it.

"The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create." ---Dieter F. Uchtdorf

You're welcome to copy my ideas.
If one of my ideas has inspired you, I'd love for you to leave me a note so I can enjoy seeing your project.
But please don't copy my photos without first asking my permission.
Thanks!

Friday, February 27, 2009

Simply print a monogram from your computer,on regular paper (no need for card stock).Then cut it out being sure to stay inside the blackso the white of the paper doesn't show.Using a regular ol' glue stick, adhere the monogramto a silver platter or china serving plate.Of course, this is FOR DISPLAY USE ONLY.When you're tired of the display,just remove it by soaking it in water.How's that for a quick and easy project?

Thursday, February 26, 2009

***Edited to Add***I feel so humbled that Kari and Kjisaare featuring this post on their"Psst...Your Creativity is Showing" segment.Thank you so much Ladies!!!

Several of you wonderful ladies requested a how-to of the grain sack reproduction. You asked, I delivered.First, decide how big you want your project. Next, use any computer program to make a pattern (I use Print Shop), or draw one by hand using a permanent marker. Then cut the burlap just a bit larger than the finished project. This makes it easier to manage, as well as giving you an idea of where to place your pattern. Place the burlap on top of the pattern, and then lay both onto a light box (one of my favorite tools EVER). If you don't own a light box, then secure the burlap onto the pattern using straight pins and tape the two pieces onto a sunny window.Using acrylic craft paint, simply paint on top of the pattern. You can also use a store bought stencil, as I did to achieve this design.Be sure to remove your pattern while the paint is still wet so the paper doesn't stick to the dried paint. Once the paint is thoroughly dry, if you want a more aged look, you can lightly sand over the painted surface. It's just that easy to make your own personalized grain sack.If these directions seem familiar to you, it's because I used a similar technique here and here.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Can you see what's wrong with this picture?Yes, the door and trim are not the same pretty whiteas the crown molding.

I'm embarrassed to admit that this has been the case for a while now. I don't even remember why I didn't paint it when everything else was painted. and because it's the back of the door, I only see it first thing in the morning when I'm running to do a dozen other things, and late at night when I'm ready for bed.Please tell me that I am not the only person that leaves a little something to do on a project and then forgets to go back and finish the job.Occasionally my husband will ask, "When are we going to paint that door?" (He says "we" even though he never does the painting.) I usually respond with, "I'll get to it."

Well, I am officially declaring todaya HOLIDAY. It will be called "Why Not Wednesday!"

Today is the day I am going to get topainting that door----FINALLY!You can join me in celebrating today. What project have you been neglecting?When are you going to do it? Why Not Wednesday!

And when I'm done painting,I'll start working on the tutorialyou asked for.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

I decided to make my own versionusing burlap and paint.I personalized it to my family.2 parents+5 kids=No.7(Name has been covered to protect the innocent)Our last name has Swiss origins,so the word "family" is spelled the Swiss way.I used spray adhesive to stick itright on top of the old painting.How's that for a change of scenery?It looks much better than it did here.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Remember when I added an extra frame around my foyer mirror? Well, that left an empty spot in my decor where that frame had previously been. There was only one thing to do. Find a fill in. This is what I found.Of course, the frame was a little too gold for my taste, so I brought out the Rub 'n Buff to grunge it up.

After applying R 'n B, I gave it a good rubbing which revealed a little of the original gold. This gave the finish more depth and dimension. I think it now has the appearance of an old piece that's been found in an attic. I like it much better now.I'm sure you're wondering ifI plan on keeping that nice painting. No.I am not. I have other plans.But that will be another post. How's that for a tease?

Friday, February 20, 2009

My daughter has a HUGE collection of jewelry. She's already filled up the jewelry frame I made. For Christmas she received so many necklaces that I told her that I would make her a necklace holder. Almost two months later, I finally decided to cross that project off my list. Here's how I made it.First, I found some pretty fabric.I took out the mod podge and picked out some drawer knobs while hubby cut a board to size and drilled holes to fit the screws for the knobs.I painted the board black. When it was dry I placed it on top of the upside-down fabric and traced around the board. I cut out the fabric. I brushed mod podge onto the board and applied the fabric piece.Then I brushed a layer of mod podge on top of the fabric in one direction. When dry, I brushed on another layer in the opposite direction.Lastly, I poked holes in the fabric to screw on the drawer knobs, then added the hanging hardware.And there you have it! A pretty necklace holder, or towel holder, or apron holder, or whatever-you-choose holder.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

A Wasted SpaceAFTER:A Pretty PlaceI'm so happy that I was able to transformthis dead end closetusing things I already had.

P.S.

I'm hoping that you wonderful readers can help Katie. She e-mailed me trying to find a certain post in blogland: "It was a tutorial on how to make your own hand painted signs-I think the lady used receipt paper to trace the sayings onto painted wood pieces?....does this ring a bell? I have a toddler and I really wanted to make him a sign for his b-day"***Edited to add: Thanks for your help! Katie found what she was after and more!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

At the end of the hall in my basement is a funny little space. I have never understood what the builder was thinking when he built this spot. Originally it had a bi-fold door on it, leading a person to think that it might be a closet. But who builds a closet that is less than ten inches deep? Even if they would have taken the time to build shelves inside, what items would you store in such a small place?Finally, after years of being annoyed with this dead end, I decided to do something with it. I knew with a little creativity, I could turn this worthless spot into a place of interest and beauty.I found a book of accordion music at the thrift store for a dollar. It has handwritten dates inside of when the owner played some of the pieces. They were dated 1954! The pages show their age. I love how yellowed they are.I tore out the pages and adhered them to the inside of the "closet", using wallpaper paste, overlapping the pages and adding parts of pages for interest.I knew I achieved my goal when one of my sons walked by and said, "That's interesting." To which I replied, "Interesting is much better than what it was before." Now, the fun begins! I'm off to find some things to put in this interesting place.

Friday, February 13, 2009

The guest room needed two bedside tables. I like having mismatched tables, especially if they have character. I had the pedestal part of a table stored in my garage. I can't even remember what happened to the original top. I just know that, much to my husband's dismay, I had kept the bottom as a project-in-waiting. All it needed was a pre-cut round top and a little paint.After giving it a couple of coats of paint, I wasn't happy with the overall look. It just called out for a little something extra. I ran to the fabric store and found some trim and some heavy weight fabric that has a great texture---like a combination of burlap and linen.I turned the table upside-down on the fabric and traced

and cut about an inch wider than the tabletop.I sprayed a generous amount of adhesiveto the tabletop and applied the fabric,pulling and gluing the extra fabric along the edge.I used hot glue to adhere the trimalong the center of the edge.(click on photo to enlarge)I love the look of this table! It adds such texture and beauty to the room.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

A few years ago I found this faux fireplace at the thrift store. It has been such a fun piece of "furniture". It stood in our living room for a long time, which confused people because they would see it in one spot in the room and the next time they visited it would be on another wall. It's also been in the downstairs hall and in our master bedroom. I've used it several times to decorate for weddings and church functions. It's amazing how even a faux fireplace can give a room a lot of ambience.

It's been on the move again. It may have found a new home in the guest bedroom.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

I needed a window covering in the guest room to give it a more finished appearance. It was December and both my time and money were running short. It was time to get creative! While out Christmas shopping I found two new single flat sheets and a pair of sheers for just a few dollars. I simply layered the two sets and clipped them on the curtain rod. It was an inexpensive, temporary fix, that gave the privacy that was needed.I don't feel like I wasted money on this temporary fix because sheets can be used for so many things. It's always good to have a few on hand.Now, with a little more time and money, I found the perfect window treatments, for a great price. They're chocolate brown and closely match the existing bedspread.It's amazing how changing something so simple can make a real difference in the look and feel of a room!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

I wanted a pretty chandelier to hang in the guest room. For months I searched the thrift stores, but there was nothing pretty (or with potential to be pretty) to be found. I had to resort to shopping for one at the blue big box home improvement store. I found a reasonably priced chandelier and loaded it my cart. Then I remembered that the other light fixtures in the room had silver finishes and this chandelier had a rubbed bronze finish. There was another, more ornate, chandelier with a silver finish, but it would cost an additional forty dollars! I stood staring up at the selection, pondering my choices. I actually liked the more simplified look of the bronze light better than the very embellished silver one.

What should I do?Then it dawned on me.Hey! I'm that lady who has a blogthat posts about transformations using paint.

I can transform this chandelier!

I unpacked my new light fixture and pulled out my paint brush and silver Rub 'n Buff. I loaded the brush with a little silver and "pounced" it on top of the bronze finish. "Pouncing" allowed a little of the bronze to shine through, which gave it a look of aged silver.

I finished it off with pretty little textured bulbs.With a little work I got the finish I wanted,for a reasonable price and the best part is,it's a one-of-a-kind!